College Football: Knox's Hipp on Stars & Stripes team

Thursday

Dec 7, 2017 at 8:30 PM

James ClarkKnox College

GRANBURY, Texas – Knox College’s Cody Hipp will join a squad of 40 standout student-athletes from NCAA Division III schools to represent Team Stars & Stripes and travel to Mexico next week for the 20th annual Tazón De Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars).

The Americans, who were nominated by their respective football coaches, will face the CONADEIP All-Stars from Mexico's private universities on Saturday, Dec. 16.

Hipp will represent Knox College as a linebacker. Hipp concluded his senior season with 44 total tackles, including three tackles for a loss and three sacks. He also forced a fumble for a Prairie Fire team that went 5-5, their best season since 2002.

He was a leader on a defense that allowed only 16 passing touchdowns on the season and picked up 22 total sacks.

Knox head football coach Damon Tomeo said of Hipp. "Cody has been a great team leader from his linebacker position in his four years at Knox.” This is a great opportunity for him to represent his family, our team, and the United States in this game."

Coach Don De Waard will lead the Global Football-organized squad of select NCAA Division III student-athletes in the annual Tazón De Estrellas for a sixth time at the Margarita Aztiazarán de Fimbres Stadium at CETYS University in Tijuana. De Waard, who holds a 3-2 record in the cross-border rivalry, and will face a Mexican team that will be coached by UDLAP head coach Eric Fisher for a third time.

Among the highlights on the roster are Franklin College QB Chase Burton, who won a third consecutive Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Offensive Player of the Year award. In 2017 he completed 242 of 351 pass attempts for 3,636 yards, 42 touchdowns and a 193.2 passer efficiency rating. Central College's all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns Sam Markham will be one of Burton's potential targets.

Defensively, Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Defensive Player of the Year Darin Hungerford from Kean University leads the linebackers along with Chaun Maiava of North Park Chicago, an All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin first team selection who led the conference in virtually every defensive category in 2017.

The Tazón de Estrellas is the focal point for the Global Football Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit initiative, which assists athletes in meeting the expenses associated with traveling overseas to realize their dreams of competing against other American football enthusiasts and experiencing different cultures.

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